Liquid dispensing device

ABSTRACT

A liquid dispensing device includes a resilient receptacle for receiving a liquid and attached to a cover device and having an accordion structure for providing a resilience to the receptacle and for forcing the liquid out of the receptacle, and a controlling device for controlling the liquid to flow out of the cover device, the receptacle includes two or more folds each having an upper peripheral wall inclined downwardly and outwardly, and a lower peripheral wall inclined downwardly and inwardly and more inclined relative to the upper peripheral wall, for allowing the peripheral walls of the folds to be folded toward each other to a compact folding structure.

The present invention is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/827,586, filed 11 Jul. 2007, pending.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a liquid dispensing device, and more particularly to a liquid dispensing device including a resilient or vacuum and disposable carriage or bladder or receptacle for containing the liquid or viscous fluid and for forcing the liquid or viscous fluid out of the resilient receptacle and for allowing the liquid dispensing device to be erectly disposed without being disposed up side down and for allowing the disposable receptacle to be changed or replaced with new ones.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical liquid dispensing devices comprise a casing disposed in an outer housing for containing the liquid or viscous fluid, in which the casing and the outer housing should be disposed up side down for allowing the liquid or viscous fluid to flow downwardly and to flow out of the casing, and a control valve or device disposed below the casing for controlling the liquid or viscous fluid to flow out of the casing.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,772,817 to Jauch, U.S. Pat. No. 3,220,611 to Zander et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,085,867 to Heller, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,192 to Cassia disclose four of the typical liquid dispensing devices each also comprising a casing disposed up side down for allowing the liquid or viscous fluid received in the casing to flow downwardly and to flow out of the casing by the gravity force.

However, it is required to attach or to mount the casing and the outer housing onto the supporting wall, and it will be inconvenient for the users to mount the casing and the outer housing onto the supporting wall by themselves.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,942,762 to Fahr, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,158,183 to Brown et al. disclose two further typical liquid dispensing devices each also comprising a casing for containing the liquid or viscous fluid, and the casing may be simply disposed on the supporting surface or object and includes a check valve and a flexible cap or bulb for temporarily receiving the liquid or viscous fluid and arranged for allowing the liquid or viscous fluid received in the casing to be pumped and to be forced to flow upwardly and to flow out of the casing by the check valve and the flexible cap or bulb.

However, after the liquid or viscous fluid has been completely flown out of the casing or after the casing has been emptied, the casing and/or the outer housing or the whole typical liquid dispensing devices should be discarded and may not be recycled or changed or replaced with the other casings that are filled with liquid or viscous fluid.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional liquid dispensing devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a liquid dispensing device including a resilient or vacuum and disposable bladder or receptacle for containing the liquid or viscous fluid and for forcing the liquid or viscous fluid out of the resilient receptacle and for allowing the liquid dispensing device to be erectly disposed on the table or the like without being disposed up side down.

The other objective of the present invention is to provide a liquid dispensing device including a resilient or vacuum and disposable receptacle for containing the liquid or viscous fluid and for allowing the receptacle to be changed or replaced with new ones.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a liquid dispensing device comprising a cover device, a resilient receptacle for receiving a liquid and attached to the cover device, and including an accordion structure for providing a resilience to the receptacle and for forcing the liquid out of the receptacle and into the cover device by the resilience of the receptacle, and a controlling device for controlling the liquid to flow out of the cover device, the receptacle includes a first fold having an upper peripheral wall inclined downwardly and outwardly and inclined relative to a horizontal plane, and a lower peripheral wall inclined downwardly and inwardly and inclined relative to the horizontal plane, and including at least one second fold located above the first fold and having a lower peripheral wall inclined downwardly and inwardly and inclined relative to the horizontal plane, and the upper peripheral wall of the first fold is foldable upwardly toward the lower peripheral wall of the second fold when the liquid is gradually consumed, and the lower peripheral wall of the first fold is moveable upwardly toward the upper peripheral wall of the first fold when the liquid is further gradually used or consumed.

The receptacle is preferably made of polyethylene material, polypropylene material, or other synthetic materials which includes a suitable or predetermined resilience.

The first fold of the receptacle preferably includes an included angle of eighty four (84) degrees between the upper peripheral wall and the lower peripheral wall of each of the folds.

The lower peripheral wall of the first fold is more inclined relative to the upper peripheral wall of the first fold, for example, the lower peripheral wall of the first fold includes an included angle of forty five (45) degrees relative to a horizontal plane, and the upper peripheral wall of the first fold includes an included angle of thirty nine (39) degrees relative to the horizontal plane that is smaller than that of the lower peripheral wall of the first fold, and arranged for allowing the upper peripheral wall of the first fold to be folded upwardly toward and in contact with and parallel to the lower peripheral wall of the second fold when the liquid is gradually consumed, and the lower peripheral wall of the first fold may then be moved upwardly toward and in contact with and parallel to the upper peripheral wall of the first folds when the liquid is further gradually consumed.

The cover device includes a casing provided therein and having a compartment formed in the casing for receiving the liquid forced out of the receptacle, and the receptacle includes a peripheral flange for attaching to the cover device.

The casing includes a bottom wall having an orifice formed therein, a check valve attached to the casing for selectively blocking the orifice of the bottom wall of the casing.

The controlling device includes a plug disposed in the casing of the cover device and having an bore formed in the plug and communicating with the compartment of the casing, and a tube slidably engaged through the bore of the plug and having a valve member for blocking the bore of the plug and for selectively opening the bore of the plug when the valve member of the tube is disengaged from the plug.

The tube includes a blind hole formed therein, and at least one opening formed therein for allowing the liquid to flow through the opening of the tube and to flow into the bore of the plug when the valve member of the tube is disengaged from the plug.

A knob may further be provided and include a conduit formed therein and having a mouth for allowing the liquid to flow out through the mouth, the tube is engaged into the conduit of the knob for allowing the liquid to flow from the tube into the conduit of the knob and to flow out through the mouth of the knob.

A spring member may further be provided and disposed between the knob and the cover device for biasing the knob to move away from the cover device and for biasing the valve member of the tube to block the bore of the plug.

A container may further be provided and attached to the cover device and includes a chamber formed therein for receiving the receptacle.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a liquid dispensing device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view of the liquid dispensing device; and

FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross sectional views similar to FIG. 1, illustrating the operation of the liquid dispensing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-3, a liquid dispensing device 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises an outer housing or container 10 including a chamber 11 formed therein, and including an air perforation 12 formed in the bottom portion thereof for allowing air to flow into and out of the chamber 11 of the container 10, and including an annular or peripheral fence 13 extended upwardly from the upper portion of the container 10, and including an outer thread 14 formed on the outer peripheral portion of the peripheral fence 13. A cover device 20 includes an annular or peripheral wall 21 extended downwardly from a cover plate 22, and an inner thread 23 formed in the inner peripheral portion of the peripheral wall 21 for threading or engaging with the outer thread 14 of the container 10, and for detachably attaching or mounting the cover device 20 to the container 10.

The cover device 20 includes a cylinder or barrel or casing 24 formed or provided in the inner portion of the cover plate 22, and an annular or peripheral space 25 formed between the cover plate 22 and the casing 24, and includes a compartment 26 formed in the casing 24, and the casing 24 includes a bottom wall 27 having an orifice 28 formed therein and communicating with the compartment 26 of the casing 24 and also communicating with the chamber 11 of the container 10 for allowing the air or the liquid or viscous fluid to flow from the chamber 11 of the container 10 into the compartment 26 of the casing 24, and the cover device 20 includes an inner thread 29 formed in the inner portion of the cover plate 22 and facing toward or spaced from the casing 24 for detachably attaching or mounting a foldable or resilient carriage or bladder or receptacle 30 which is received in the chamber 11 of the container 10 and which is preferably made of polyethylene, polypropylene, or other synthetic materials.

The foldable or resilient receptacle 30 includes an annular or peripheral flange 31 extended upwardly or outwardly therefrom, and includes an outer thread 32 formed on the outer peripheral portion of the peripheral flange 31 for threading or engaging with the inner thread 29 of the cover device 20, and for detachably attaching or mounting the resilient receptacle 30 to the cover device 20, and includes a bellows-shape or accordion structure having one or more folds 33 for forming or providing a suitable resilience and a foldable structure to the resilient receptacle 30, and the receptacle 30 may further, but not necessarily be vacuumed for allowing the liquid or viscous fluid 34 contained in the resilient receptacle 30 (FIG. 3) to be forced or squeezed out of the resilient receptacle 30 or to be forced to flow through the orifice 28 of the bottom wall 27 and to flow into the compartment 26 of the casing 24 (FIGS. 3, 4). The casing 24 of the cover device 20 is engaged into the peripheral flange 31 of the resilient receptacle 30.

A spring blade or check valve 35 is disposed in the casing 24 of the cover device 20, or attached to the bottom wall 27 of the casing 24 for selectively blocking the orifice 28 of the bottom wall 27 of the casing 24 and for limiting or controlling the liquid or viscous fluid 34 to flow only from the resilient receptacle 30 into the compartment 26 of the casing 24 and to prevent the liquid or viscous fluid 34 from flowing backwardly from the compartment 26 of the casing 24 into the resilient receptacle 30 (FIGS. 3, 4). It is to be noted that the liquid or viscous fluid 34 may be forced or squeezed to flow out of the resilient receptacle 30 and to flow into the compartment 26 of the casing 24 by the resilience or the vacuum of the resilient receptacle 30 without additional pumping devices, such that the liquid dispensing device 1 may be erectly disposed on the supporting tables or surfaces (not shown) or the like without being disposed up side down and without being attached or mounted onto the supporting wall.

A valve or controlling means or device 40 is further provided and attached to the casing 24 or the cover device 20 for actuating or operating or controlling the liquid or viscous fluid 34 to flow out of the casing 24 or the cover device 20. The controlling device 40 includes a plug 41 disposed in the casing 24 of the cover device 20 and having an bore 42 formed therein and communicating with the compartment 26 of the casing 24, and a tube 43 slidably engaged through the bore 42 of the plug 41 and having a blind hole 44 formed therein and having an enlarged head or valve member 45 for selectively blocking the bore 42 of the plug 41 and/or for selectively opening the bore 42 of the plug 41 (FIG. 3) when the tube 43 is slid or moved relative to the plug 41 and/or when the valve member 45 of the tube 43 is disengaged or separated from the plug 41.

The tube 43 includes one or more openings 46 formed therein for allowing the liquid or viscous fluid 34 to flow through the openings 46 of the tube 43 and to flow into the bore 42 of the plug 41 when the valve member 45 of the tube 43 is disengaged from the plug 41. A knob 47 includes a manifold or conduit 48 formed therein and having an outlet or nozzle or mouth 49 for allowing the liquid or viscous fluid 34 to flow through the mouth 49, the upper portion of the tube 43 is engaged into the conduit 48 of the knob 47 and attached or secured to the knob 47 with such as force-fitted engagements, adhesive materials, or by welding processes, and thus for allowing the liquid or viscous fluid 34 to flow from the blind hole 44 of the tube 43 into the conduit 48 of the knob 47 and then to selectively flow out through the mouth 49 of the knob 47 (FIG. 3).

A spring member 50 may be disposed between the knob 47 and the cover device 20 for biasing or forcing the knob 47 to move away from the cover device 20 and for biasing or forcing the valve member 45 of the tube 43 to block the bore 42 of the plug 41. A cap 60 may further be provided and attached or engaged to the knob 47 for moving or depressing the knob 47 downwardly toward the cover device 20 against the spring member 50, and for selectively moving or disengaging the valve member 45 of the tube 43 from the plug 41 and thus for selectively opening the bore 42 of the plug 41, and thus for allowing the liquid or viscous fluid 34 to flow from the compartment 26 of the casing 24 through the openings 46 of the tube 43 and then to flow into the bore 42 of the plug 41 and the blind hole 44 of the tube 43 and to selectively flow out through the mouth 49 of the knob 47.

In operation, as shown in FIG. 3, the spring member 50 may bias or force the valve member 45 of the tube 43 to engage with the plug 41 and to block the bore 42 of the plug 41 and to prevent the liquid or viscous fluid 34 from flowing from the compartment 26 of the casing 24 into the blind hole 44 of the tube 43. When the knob 47 is depressed downwardly toward the cover device 20 against the spring member 50, the valve member 45 of the tube 43 may be moved or disengaged from the plug 41 to open the bore 42 of the plug 41, and thus to allow the liquid or viscous fluid 34 to flow from the compartment 26 of the casing 24 through the openings 46 of the tube 43 and then to flow into the bore 42 of the plug 41 and the blind hole 44 of the tube 43 and to flow out through the mouth 49 of the knob 47.

At this moment, or when the knob 47 is moved or depressed downwardly toward the cover device 20, the check valve 35 may be forced to block the orifice 28 of the bottom wall 27 of the casing 24. After dispensing the liquid or viscous fluid, the knob 47 may be released, and the spring member 50 may bias or force the valve member 45 of the tube 43 to engage with the plug 41 and to block the bore 42 of the plug 41 and to prevent the liquid or viscous fluid 34 from flowing from the compartment 26 of the casing 24 into the blind hole 44 of the tube 43. At this moment, the resilient receptacle 30 may force or squeeze the liquid or viscous fluid 34 contained in the resilient receptacle 30 to open the check valve 35 and to flow out of the resilient receptacle 30 or to flow through the orifice 28 of the bottom wall 27 and then to flow into the compartment 26 of the casing 24.

Accordingly, the resilient receptacle 30 may force or squeeze the liquid or viscous fluid 34 to flow out of the resilient receptacle 30 and to flow out through the mouth 49 of the knob 47, such that the liquid dispensing device 1 may be erectly disposed on the supporting tables or surfaces (not shown) or the like without being disposed up side down and without being attached or mounted onto the supporting wall. In addition, after the resilient receptacle 30 is emptied, the other resilient receptacles 30 that are filled with liquid or viscous fluid may be changeably or replaceably attached to the casing 24 or the cover device 20 for allowing the resilient receptacles 30 to be changed or replaced with new ones and for allowing the casing 24 and the cover device 20 to be used again and again. The above-described structure has been disclosed or described in the co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/827,586, filed 11 Jul. 2007, which may be taken as a reference for the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, each of the folds 33 of the receptacle 30 includes an upper peripheral wall 36 and a lower peripheral wall 37, in which the upper peripheral wall 36 is inclined downwardly and outwardly and inclined relative to a horizontal plane 38 for an included angle of about thirty nine (39) degrees, or between 34 and 44 degrees, and the lower peripheral wall 37 is inclined downwardly and inwardly and inclined relative to the horizontal plane 38 for an included angle of about forty five (45) degrees, or between 40 and 50 degrees, or the lower peripheral walls 37 are more inclined relative to the upper peripheral walls 36, and/or the folds 33 of the receptacle 30 each include an included angle of about eighty four (84) degrees between the upper peripheral walls 36 and the lower peripheral walls 37 of the respective folds 33, and the folds 33 are preferably arranged for allowing the upper peripheral wall 36 of one or the first of the folds 33 to be folded upwardly toward and in contact with and parallel to the lower peripheral wall 37 of the fold 33 that is located above the one or the first of the fold 33 when the liquid or viscous fluid 34 is gradually consumed (FIG. 3).

The lower peripheral walls 37 of the one or the first of the fold 33 may then be moved upwardly toward and in contact with and parallel to the upper peripheral wall 36 of one or the first of the folds 33 when the liquid or viscous fluid 34 is further gradually consumed (FIGS. 3, 4). It is to be noted that the receptacle 30 includes a suitable or predetermined resilience to force or squeeze the liquid or viscous fluid 34 and to force the liquid or viscous fluid 34 to flow out of the receptacle 30 and to flow out through the mouth 49 of the knob 47, and the folds 33 of the vacuumed receptacle 30 may then be gradually folded or moved upwardly until the upper peripheral walls 36 and the lower peripheral walls 37 of the folds 33 are parallel to each other (FIG. 4) for allowing the receptacle 30 to be folded to a compact folding structure without occupying a great space.

Accordingly, the liquid dispensing device in accordance with the present invention includes a resilient bladder or receptacle for containing the liquid or viscous fluid and for forcing the liquid or viscous fluid out of the resilient receptacle and for allowing the liquid dispensing device to be erectly disposed on the table or the like without being disposed up side down and without being attached or mounted onto the supporting wall, and for allowing the receptacle to be changed or replaced with new ones.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A liquid dispensing device comprising: a cover device, a resilient receptacle for receiving a liquid and attached to said cover device, and including an accordion structure for providing a resilience to said receptacle and for forcing the liquid out of said receptacle and into said cover device by the resilience of said receptacle, and means for controlling the liquid to flow out of said cover device, said receptacle including a first fold having an upper peripheral wall inclined downwardly and outwardly and inclined relative to a horizontal plane, and a lower peripheral wall inclined downwardly and inwardly and inclined relative to the horizontal plane, and including at least one second fold located above said first fold and having a lower peripheral wall inclined downwardly and inwardly and inclined relative to the horizontal plane, and said upper peripheral wall of said first fold being foldable upwardly toward said lower peripheral wall of said at least one second fold when the liquid is gradually consumed, and said lower peripheral wall of said first fold being moveable upwardly toward said upper peripheral wall of said first fold when the liquid is further gradually consumed.
 2. The liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said receptacle is made of polyethylene material.
 3. The liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said receptacle is made of polypropylene material.
 4. The liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first fold of said receptacle includes an included angle of eighty four (84) degrees between said upper peripheral wall and said lower peripheral wall of said first fold.
 5. The liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lower peripheral wall of said first fold is more inclined relative to said upper peripheral wall of said first fold.
 6. The liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lower peripheral wall of said first fold includes an included angle of forty five (45) degrees relative to a horizontal plane.
 7. The liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper peripheral wall of said first fold includes an included angle of thirty nine (39) degrees relative to a horizontal plane.
 8. The liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover device includes a casing provided therein and having a compartment formed in said casing for receiving the liquid forced out of said receptacle, and said receptacle includes a peripheral flange for attaching to said cover device.
 9. The liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said casing includes a bottom wall having an orifice formed therein, a check valve attached to said casing for selectively blocking said orifice of said bottom wall of said casing.
 10. The liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said controlling means includes a plug disposed in said casing of said cover device and having an bore formed in said plug and communicating with said compartment of said casing, and a tube slidably engaged through said bore of said plug and having a valve member for blocking said bore of said plug and for selectively opening said bore of said plug when said valve member of said tube is disengaged from said plug.
 11. The liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said tube includes a blind hole formed therein, and at least one opening formed therein for allowing the liquid to flow through said at least one opening of said tube and to flow into said bore of said plug when said valve member of said tube is disengaged from said plug.
 12. The liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 10, wherein a knob includes a conduit formed therein and having a mouth for allowing the liquid to flow out through said mouth, said tube is engaged into said conduit of said knob for allowing the liquid to flow from said tube into said conduit of said knob and to flow out through said mouth of said knob.
 13. The liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 12, wherein a spring member is disposed between said knob and said cover device for biasing said knob to move away from said cover device and for biasing said valve member of said tube to block said bore of said plug.
 14. The liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a container is attached to said cover device and includes a chamber formed therein for receiving said receptacle. 